PDA

View Full Version : Review: Kenwood KDC-BT848U Head Unit



static667
09-11-2011, 09:38 AM
I picked up this unit while I was on my alligator trip to Florida. It was after we had bagged our second gator, I went to get in my car and put the face plate back on my Pioneer unit. It came on and immediately turned off. For good. It also ate my I Killed The Prom Queen cd.

Well, I'm not about to drive approximately 1,000 miles without music. I go to the nearest Best Buy, as no local shops have what I'm looking for. After a little messing with the units on display, I chose the Kenwood. They didn't have any in stock. Crap.

"Can I buy the display model?"
"Umm, let me ask a manager...yes you can."
"I'll take it."

Out I walk, head unit in hand. They could not locate the peripheries at the time (remote, manuals, ect.), so the guy gave me his card and said to call. I installed it the next day. I called on the way back to NC, they located the extras, then shipped them to me UPS ant no charge. Awesome service.

It comes fully loaded. AM, FM, CD, Satellite Radio ready, Bluetooth, front 3.5mm input, front USB port, iPod controls(I don't own an iPod but it has them), and a few other things I have yet to learn about, I'm sure.

The audio tunability on this unit is great. You can adjust the usuals, bass, treble, & mid, from -8 to +8 and control the subwoofer level. It also has the usual balance and fade. Then you go further. In the detailed settings, you can adjust the high pass filter on the front speakers separate from the front. I have the front set at 150hz and rear set at 100hz. The subwoofer also has a lowpass filter which can be adjusted from 50hz to 120hz. I'm happy at 80hz with my two tens.

The sound quality is top notch. There is next to no background noise. In order for me to hear it, I have to pause the audio playback and turn the volume to maximum.

The Bluetooth feature is nice. I've never had much experience with it in the past, but this unit is great. It automatically connects with my phone, which I have it set to do, and downloads my contacts. When I place or receive a call, it stops audio playback and plays the call through the front speakers. When I receive calls, the number of the person calling and their name, if they are in my contacts, come up on the unit's display. I'm still adjusting the mic's sensitivity to work out a bit of echo. On my end, the audio quality of the call is good. I need to find a good test dummy to call and help me tweak the settings.

All in all, I'm fairly pleased with this unit. I the sticker cost was $212.xx and it was worth every penny.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/aefc7a98-f1e3-3b4c.jpg
The install trim kit from Scosche kinda warped on me.

And at night,
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6132149178_90bd6f27ef_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/static667/6132149178/)
Kenwood display (http://www.flickr.com/photos/static667/6132149178/) by static667 (http://www.flickr.com/people/static667/), on Flickr

I'll probably eloborate a little further when I actually read the manual.

Sent from my rooted Fascinate using Tapatalk.

static667
09-12-2011, 02:33 AM
Updated with night photo.

quikryptonite
12-20-2011, 11:58 AM
After a few months, how do you like the aftermarket head unit? It sounds like my DICE is causing some problems with the K-Bus and at this point I am willing to trade my OEM look for an aftermarket stereo unit. Have you had any problems with yours so far or any electrical issues?